Antique Trader's News and Discussion Forum -
[Cached Version]
Published on: 9/1/2006
Last Visited: 12/25/2006
They come to the auctioneer saying, ‘I want you to offer my auction simultaneously on the Internet,'" said Steve Baska, director of communications for the NAA.
Participation in auctions by Internet bidders assures that goods will be offered to a wider audience, thus increasing the chance they will sell at fair market value.
"There are times when it is useful to put certain items on eBay, for instance, art collections or pieces of equipment, that need a larger audience than just the local auction," said Baska, referring to programs such as eBay Live Auctions.
"Part of what NAA is doing is to educate auctioneers about options available to them on the Internet and how eBay can be useful and not just a competitor," said Baska.
Meanwhile, the NAA is embarking on a mission to assimilate nontraditional auctioneers.
"NAA is widening the scope of what it is trying to do beyond traditional auctioneers to everybody involved in the competitive bidding method.We're trying to bring in folks who sell over the Internet in the auction method," said Baska.
The NAA also is attempting to bring into the fold peripheral personnel involved in the so-called competitive bidding industry.
"There are an increasing number of professional people who help in auction companies putting together real estate deals, for example.We're reaching beyond the bid caller who gets up and does the auctioning on site," said Baska.
The NAA acknowledges nontraditional auctions are here to stay.Its new mission statement is "to promote, increase and build the trustworthiness of the competitive bidding method of marketing, including live, Internet and sealed bid auctions, and enhance the professionalism of its practitioners."
The NAA believes it has much to offer eBay sellers.
"That's going to be one of the discussions we have with eBay corporate," said Baska.
...
The new generation knows that it's important to be completely honest and helpful to the client," said Baska.
...
Baska, who edits Auction World newspaper, the auctioneer magazine for the NAA, said the hottest topics among member auctioneers are how can we get into real estate, how do we deal with the Internet and how do we use it?
NAA seminars and specialty designation programs address these how-to questions.Topping the NAA's educational programs is the Certified Auctioneers Institute, which observed its 30th anniversary March 17-19 at Indiana University, the site of the CAI course offerings.CAI coursework takes two years to complete and includes three weeklong sessions.
"It really covers a broad range of things in more depth than they're able to do in auction school," said Baska, comparing the CAI designation to that of a master's degree, "whereas auction school is like a quick bachelor's program."
23 online sources [ view sources ]
Profile is not claimed [ claim profile ]
